A senior official of Drake & Scull Engineering, one of the major contractors at The Mall of Qatar, said that the mall is scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of this year.

One of the biggest commercial projects in the country, spread over more than five million square feet of built up area, the development is expected to welcome an estimated 20 million customers annually, The Peninsula reports.

Ahmad Al Naser, Managing Director of Drake & Scull Engineering said:"We are extremely delighted with the pace of progress on the Mall of Qatar, which is well on its way to meeting its Q4 2015 launch date.”

The construction works on the project have been underway since 2012 and are on schedule, according to Drake & Scull Qatar (DSI Qatar), a wholly owned subsidiary of Drake & Scull International PJSC (DSI) and the mall will be home to some 80 food and beverage outlets, ranging from signature restaurants to open kitchen venues and fast food fare.

Al Naser added: "Our project planning and execution in coordination with the main contractors and the clients has allowed us to deliver Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing (MEP) works for over four million square feet of built up area that will house over 500 shops as well as the world's largest IMAX screen."

The project is strategically situated alongside the upcoming FIFA World cup stadium, as well as within proximity of a dedicated Doha Metro station.

According to Qatar's Ministry of Development, Planning and Statistics, the economy is expected to expand 7.7% in 2015 with little impact from falling oil prices on the country's finances.

Khaldoun Tabari, CEO and vice chairman for DSI, said: "Qatar has continued its upward trajectory by successfully diversifying its economy in order to sustain its growth even during sharp drops in oil prices. Rapid expansion in the real estate sector has created an enormous demand for high-quality engineering services.”

Qatar ranks second as the most promising emerging market for investment in 2015 in the fourth annual ranking by Bloomberg Marketing, in factors such as investment environment, economic growth forecast, and ease of doing business.

Currently, Qatar is in a position to implement major engineering projects such as district cooling plants which have already proven their benefits for large-scale real estate developments.